ANOTHER WAR YEARS VET PASSES.

More sad news. here in Orange County N.Y... Legendary FDNY South Bronx Lieutenant, Lt. Tom Simmons retired from Engine 82 has passed away.
I believe Tom was 94 and was also a long time U.S. Marine. Tom fought in the Korean War and it Viet Nam and won many awards and metals for his distinguished service, both in the U.S.M.C. and the F.D.N.Y. Not too long ago Tom was a guide at the FDNY Museum on Spring Street in Manhattan. A great man and friend to many, myself included. Truly a Fireman's Firemen and all who knew him knew him knew he was special.
To quote a poem from World War II's Battles in the Pacific.
"When a Marine leaves this place to Saint Peter he will tell another Marine reporting in I served my Time in Hell"
Funeral date Aug. 17th, 2026, at Saint Columba's R.C., Church on Route 94 in Chester N.Y. Rest in Peace Tom.
Captain Bob Rainey FDNY Engine 26 retired.
 
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TOM SIMMONS on 8-3-26 at 94 yrs of age ....FF LAD*120....LT ENG*82.....he certainly saw it all......REST IN PEACE BROTHER....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (USMC 40 yrs Active & Reserve ) & FDNY.....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES... SEMPER FI !
 
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Tom was interviewed a few years ago for the book "They Saved New York"...excerpt from the book:
Tom’s first job was delivering the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper, and he later worked for a local dry cleaner. The Korean War was being fought and Tom enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1951. After three years at Parris Island, Tom was sent to Korea as an infantryman and assigned to the combat engineers building. This was among the most important and dangerous jobs, maintaining roads and power supplies, often on the front lines. Tom returned home in 1954.

After his discharge, Tom worked as a United Airlines baggage handler at Idlewild Airport, which was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 24, 1963. Tom’s uncle was a district superintendent for the Sanitation Department and suggested Tom start taking civil service tests. He made three police department lists but had no desire to become a police officer. Although Tom never considered becoming a firefighter, he took the FDNY exam and was hired in July 1957.


Tom was assigned to Brooklyn Engine Co. 283, which covered the Brownsville neighborhood. In 1961, Tom transferred to Ladder Co. 120 to try his hand at truck work. Tom studied to pass civil service exams at Delehanty Institute. During the hot summer of 1970, Lt. Tom Simmons, a newly promoted boss, was assigned to Bronx Engine Co. 82. (Top photo by Glenn Usdin from the same book.)
SimmonsBW.jpg
2..54433921_2232102850202973_4699976033338654720_n.jpg
 
RET DC ROLAND J. GORTON JR. ..DV*10...WW2 USMC VETERAN.
On 8-29-26 AT 99 yrs of age....
I remember Chief Gorton in BKLYN ...from back when i worked in Rescue 2 .....i did not know him personally or until i read his Obituary the fact that he was a Marine let alone a WW2 Veteran.....what an Exemplary Life of Service & what Great Contributions thru it.....REST IN PEACE BROTHER....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (USMC WW2) & FDNY ....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES....SEMPER FI !

Photo..Obit & Arrangements...
 
I would run into Chief Gorton in Bay Ridge often & he always greeted me like we were old friends & always went by Ronny & I met him early on in my career in L114, he knew many of the “old timers in the 40 Bn & if I remember correctly was a member/ officer in E201, so he always showed up at stags, etc. He was a ball of energy & I would also see around Election Day campaigning for the UFOA. I never could tell how old he was because of his unlimited activeness. Wow, 99 years old.
Thank you for your USMC & FDNY service, may he REST in PEACE🙏
 
The passing of Andy Gargiulo on September 2, 2026, at 93 years of age. Former member of 231-120. Wake Tuesday, Sept. 8th at Mangano Funeral Home 1701 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park NY from 3-8 PM.
 
^^^^^ RET FF ANDY GARGIULO LAD*120.....CATHOLIC DEACON ....KOREAN WAR VETERAN ...on 9-2-26 at 93 yrs of age .....

REST IN PEACE BROTHER....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY ..(US ARMY KOREAN WAR ) & FDNY...

PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.

From Watkins St. ........
It is with deep sadness that Watkins Street announces the death of beloved former member Andy Gargiulo L-120. Andy served during the tumultuous war years of the department, seeing a tremendous amount of fire duty and helping shape the job as we know it today. After retiring from the FDNY Andy continued his life of service and became a deacon. Always a welcome site at the annual 9/11 memorial service in quarters, Mr. Gargiulo would be there to lend kind words and a blessing upon the firehouse. His loss will be felt not only among his family and friends, but to the Watkins Street community as a whole. May he rest in peace.

WAKE 9/8/2026 3pm-8pm
Mangano Funeral Home
1701 Deer Park Avenue
Deer Park, NY 11729

VISITATION 9/9/2026 2-4pm

A visitation will be held at Maria Regina church in Seaford from 2-4pm upon his transfer from the funeral home to the church

MASS OF TRANSFERRAL 9/9/2026 7pm

Due to Andy being a member of the clergy, a mass will be held at the church at 7pm

FUNERAL 9/10/2026 11am

Maria Regina Church
3945 Jerusalem Avenue
Seaford NY, 11783

INTERNMENT (Following the Funeral Mass)

St. Charles Cemetery
2015 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale NY, 11735


THE TRADITION CONTINUES...


Photo ..Obit & Arrangements... https://www.manganofh.com/obituaries/deacon-andrew-gargiulo



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68jk09 said:
^^^^^ RET FF ANDY GARGIULIO LAD*120.....REST IN PEACE BROTHER....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.

From Watkins St. ........
It is with deep sadness that Watkins Street announces the death of beloved former member Andy Gargiulo L-120. Andy served during the tumultuous war years of the department, seeing a tremendous amount of fire duty and helping shape the job as we know it today. After retiring from the FDNY Andy continued his life of service and became a deacon. Always a welcome site at the annual 9/11 memorial service in quarters, Mr. Gargiulo would be there to lend kind words and a blessing upon the firehouse. His loss will be felt not only among his family and friends, but to the Watkins Street community as a whole. May he rest in peace.

WAKE 9/8/2026 3pm-8pm
Mangano Funeral Home
1701 Deer Park Avenue
Deer Park, NY 11729

VISITATION 9/9/2026 2-4pm

A visitation will be held at Maria Regina church in Seaford from 2-4pm upon his transfer from the funeral home to the church

MASS OF TRANSFERRAL 9/9/2026 7pm

Due to Andy being a member of the clergy, a mass will be held at the church at 7pm

FUNERAL 9/10/2026 11am

Maria Regina Church
3945 Jerusalem Avenue
Seaford NY, 11783

INTERNMENT (Following the Funeral Mass)

St. Charles Cemetery
2015 Wellwood Avenue
Farmingdale NY, 11735




--
The Tradition Continues...
Click to expand...
RIP Andy. Andy was a substitute teacher in my final year or 2 at St John the Baptist High School. I knew at the time he was retired or close to retirement from the job but didn’t know where he worked. I always remember how big of a man he was. It was a few years after I graduated that I learned he worked on Watkins St. Hearing so many war stories from my dad about the South Bronx, I only wished I would have talked to Andy about his time on the job.
 
"...Before leaving for the Army, Andrew had already achieved an extraordinary milestone, winning the National Championship in 1950 with CCNY. Upon returning home from his service, he continued his basketball career at St. John’s University, where he proudly played for the Men’s Basketball Team under legendary coaches Joe Lapchick and Lou Carnesecca."
 
And the bad news keeps coming. Just got word from BC Joe Flynn's son that Joe has passed away on Sept. 9th, 2026. Joe was a beloved Charter Member of 176. I have no further info at this time. I just spoke to him about 3 weeks ago to inform him of our upcoming reunion. Joe was 90 and his last assignment was the 39 Battalion.
 
REST IN PEACE BROTHER....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.. Worked with Joe often when he was a COV LT & worked tours in the old R Group in R*2 while we were on Carlton Ave & later when he was a BC in BN*39.
 
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68jk09 said:
RET BC ARTHUR F. SULLIVAN BN*57.
On 9- 18-25 at 97 yrs of age .... Appt 1955....RET 1993....
REST IN PEACE BROTHER....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (US ARMY both a 1947 enlistment & again during the Korean War ) & the FDNY......
PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES ...
www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newsday/name/arthur-sullivan-obituary?id=62470618
Click to expand...
Rest in Peace Chief Sullivan. May your family at home be comforted as well as the family you gained while on the job and the houses where you served.
The news of Artie's passing is so sad. I knew him as a Lieutenant in 132. He was a good guy, very generous, patient, great sense of humor and proud of his family. I last saw him at the 280/132 Centennial and he looked great. He still had his sharp sense of humor.
You will be missed by those who knew you. Rest in Peace, Artie.
 
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RET AC ROBERT MANSON.....Appt 3-62 .....RET 1-97.
REST IN PEACE BROTHER.....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (US NAVY & FDNY) ....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.......Bob was a really great fellow. who had been OTJ before & after the FDNY War Years during which he was a LT in ENG*50 then the CPT of ENG*82 during some of both Units busiest years ......Bob was a poster on the FDNY sites as both TABLETOP & later ******* with an avatar of ?

Some of Bob's Great FDNY History filled post's that he made on nycfire.net with the handle ******** & avatar ?

nycfire.net/forums/search/436171/?c[users]=%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A%2A&o=date

..............................................................................................................................................

MANSON
Robert Emmett
Robert
Manson
passed
away peacefully at the age of 89 after a 6-year battle with vascular dementia and heart failure.
Robert is survived by
his
wife,
Elizabeth, 2 sons
Robert C. Manson Joan Man-son) and
Christopher Man-
son (Christina Parietti) and 2 daughters,
Susan Mansan
(Merrill Emfinger) and Elizabeth Britt (Karl Britt). He was preceded in death by his Michael Manson. Robert had 8 grandchildren, Michael Manson, Jessica Manson, John
Manson.
Stephen
Matthew
Parsons,
Parsons, Thomas
Britt, Kaitlyn Britt and Brianna Emfinger. He was a Veteran of the US Navy. Robert is a retired Deputy Chief of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY).
He is
most notably
recognized for his critical leadership role during
the 1993
World Trade Center bombing.
Following the terrorist detonation in the underground
parking
garage on February
26, 1993, Deputy Chief Robert Manson and Deputy Chief Joseph Mills successfully established the sector command at Tower 2 (the South Tower) to coordinate the massive rescue, evacuation, and firefighting
operations
the com-
plex.

Robert had a long career with the department, moving up the ranks over several de-cades. Robert also served for
5-years as a Fire Commissioner for the Town of Hicksville, New York. He was much loved and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing him and working with him. Rob-
ert's memorial service will be at St Agnes Church in Naples, Florida on October 17th in the Chapel at 11:30 am.
 
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